Daniel Korski’s London mayoral campaign remains under intense pressure as a government minister who has backed him previously “paused” her support for his candidacy, over the “very serious and concerning” allegations by the TV producer Daisy Goodwin that he had groped her at No 10 a decade ago.
The children and families minister, Claire Coutinho, has called on the Cabinet Office “swiftly” to follow up Goodwin’s formal complaint about Korski’s alleged behaviour, and said the actions described in the allegation had “no place in society”.
Korski, a former No 10 adviser, denies allegations that he touched Goodwin’s breast during a meeting in Downing Street. She first raised concerns anonymously in 2017 in a Radio Times interview.
Goodwin told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme on Wednesday she felt “entirely justified” in naming Korski and claimed she had since been contacted by other women with “very interesting stories”.
She submitted a formal complaint about Korski’s alleged behaviour late on Tuesday, posting a screengrab to Instagram of an email receipt from the Cabinet Office with the subject line: “Formal complaint about Daniel Korski urgent.” The post included the caption: “Who is running the country?”
Korski, thought to be the Conservative frontrunner, who also had the support and endorsement of the levelling up secretary, Michael Gove, and the education minister Robert Halfon, is battling to stay in the race.
Halfon is also said to have “paused” his support, while a number of senior Conservatives are privately worried about the accusation damaging the party’s reputation, with some privately suggesting he should withdraw.
Coutinho told Sky News: “I think we need to see what’s happened. But at the same time, this is an allegation. He’s roundly denied it. If there is a complaint in the system, it needs to be followed up swiftly so we can find the facts and see what’s happened, but I do think it’s a very serious and concerning allegation.”
She added: “It’s really difficult to have that kind of experience at work. It’s a horrible experience to go through when you’re expecting to be respected, so it’s really important we take it seriously when it happens … It’s really important that we establish the facts.”
Asked repeatedly if she had sympathy for Korski, the minister said she had “sympathy for anyone going through difficult circumstances”, resisting questions about whether she would call for him to step back from his campaign since a formal complaint had been made.
Goodwin told the Today programme she decided to name Korski more than a decade after the alleged incident because he was running to be London mayor. She was pressed during the interview if she was “absolutely certain” about the alleged events, as Korski categorically denied the actions.
“That’s what happens in these situations,” Goodwin said. “There’s no reason why I’d come forward other than the fact that this happened to me 10 years ago. I was shocked by it; I can’t say I’m a victim, but I was shocked by it.
“Since I wrote my piece I have been contacted by other women with some very interesting stories which clearly I can’t talk abut. But I feel entirely justified in having written the piece and naming him … when something like this happens to you, you know.”
Labour has called for Korski to “consider his position”, after the Cabinet Office confirmed receipt of Goodwin’s formal complaint.
The shadow levelling up minister, Alex Norris, said if a Labour candidate had been the subject of such an allegation, he would expect them to stand aside. “[Korski] will get questioned about this every day. I think it will be very difficult for him to carry on,” Norris told Sky.
Questions have been raised over the Conservatives’ selection processes as it was also revealed on Tuesday that Korski, one of three remaining candidates on the party’s shortlist for the race, was called into Conservative headquarters for an interview after “red flags” emerged early in the vetting process.
In a statement on Tuesday, Korski maintained his denials, saying that “politics can be a rough and challenging business”. He added: “Unfortunately, in the midst of this demanding environment, this baseless allegation from the past has resurfaced. I want to unequivocally state that I categorically deny any claim of inappropriate behaviour. I denied when it was alluded to seven years ago and I do so now.”
Coutinho said No 10 was a safe environment for women, but could only say this had been the case under Rishi Sunak’s leadership as she had only been a minister in his government. “Rishi Sunak treats all people with respect. I’ve known him for a long time but I’ve only worked in the current government,” Coutinho told Sky News, adding: “It’s a safe space to work.”
Korski is up against two other contenders. One, the London assembly member Susan Hall, told the Sun it was “for him to decide what he’s going to do”. The other shortlisted candidate, Moz Hossain, a barrister with little political experience, is thought to be No 10’s favourite.
